Self-Aligning Roofing Shingles
A self-aligning roofing shingle with a shingle body defining a top edge, and at least two spaced locating features proximate the top edge of the shingle body, each locating feature defined by a projection and an indentation, wherein a projection of one shingle in a first course of shingle locates in an indentation of a mating shingle in an adjacent course of shingles.
This application claims priority of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/684,090 filed on May 24, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to roofing shingles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraditional asphalt roofing shingles are rectangular and have two spaced slots along their bottom edge. The shingles are laid such that the slots of shingles in adjacent courses are fully offset.
In order to properly install shingles, each course musty be plumb and parallel to the adjacent courses. Doing so requires some degree of skill, which makes shingles relatively difficult and expensive to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore and object of this invention to provide a roofing shingle that is self-aligning with shingles located above it in an adjacent course, so that there is no need to manually align the shingles in order to properly shingle a roof.
This invention comprises an asphalt-style roofing shingle with a series of locating features (which may comprise tabs) that properly align the shingles, one above the other, as the courses are laid down on the roof. In the preferred embodiments, the alignment is accomplished by adding features proximate to or extending from the normal upper edge of the shingle. When the next course is laid down over the shingle, the features interlock. This ensures proper alignment of the shingle and also helps hold them in place while they are being nailed. The result is that the shingles are easier to install, which saves installation time.
The invention features a self-aligning roofing shingle with a shingle body defining a top edge, and at least two spaced locating features proximate the top edge of the shingle body, each locating feature defined by a projection and an indentation, wherein a projection of one shingle in a first course of shingle locates in an indentation of a mating shingle in an adjacent course of shingles. The shingle body may be generally rectangular. The self-aligning roofing shingle may further comprise a locating strip carrying the locating features and coupled to the shingle. The locating strip may run the length of the shingle. The locating strip may carry a series of regular projections and indentations. The locating strip may have a generally serpentine shape, with projections located above indentations. The projections may have straight edges, or may be rounded, or any other shape. They can be made by die-cutting traditional shingle material. The shingle may have spaced slots along its lower edge, and the locating features may be arranged such that the shingles in adjacent courses can be aligned such that the slots are misaligned.
A roofing shingle system may comprise a number of courses of these self-aligning roofing shingles, and further comprise a starter strip located underneath the first course of the shingles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent based upon the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention is shown conceptually in
By properly sizing and locating the shingle locating features such that the mating features of overlapping shingles interfit with one another, as a new course of shingles is laid over an existing course, the shingles are properly aligned such that the slots 18, 19 alternate as shown in layout 80,
Also shown in
The invention accomplishes interlocked shingles that are level and plumb across both the width and height of the roof, thereby substantially facilitating installment and also creating a better looking end result. In order to accomplish this result, the shingles should have at least two spaced locating features proximate their top edge, so that the shingle laid on top of such shingle is positively located by the at least two locating features.
Although specific aspects of the invention are shown in some drawings and not others, this is not a limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention is defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A self-aligning roofing shingle, comprising:
- a shingle body defining a top edge; and
- at least two spaced locating features proximate the top edge of the shingle body, each locating feature comprising a projection and an indentation, wherein a projection of one shingle in a first course of shingle locates in an indentation of a mating shingle in an adjacent course of shingles.
2. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 1 in which the shingle body is generally rectangular.
3. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 1 further comprising a locating strip carrying the locating features and coupled to the shingle.
4. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 3 in which the locating strip runs the length of the shingle.
5. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 4 in which the locating strip carries a series of regular projections and indentations.
6. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 5 in which the locating strip has a generally serpentine shape, with projections located above indentations.
7. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 1 in which the projections have straight edges.
8. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 1 in which the projections are rounded.
9. The self-aligning roofing shingle of claim 1 in which the shingle has spaced slots along its lower edge, and in which the locating features are arranged such that the shingles in adjacent courses can be aligned such that the slots are misaligned.
10. A roofing shingle system comprising a number of courses of the self-aligning roofing shingles of claim 1, and further comprising a starter strip located underneath the first course of the shingles.
11. A self-aligning roofing shingle, comprising:
- a generally rectangular shingle body defining a top edge; and
- a locating strip running the length of the shingle and defining a series of regular projections and indentations that define locating features proximate the top edge of the shingle body, wherein a projection of one shingle in a first course of shingle locates in an indentation of a mating shingle in an adjacent course of shingles.
12. A roofing shingle system comprising a number of courses of the self-aligning roofing shingles of claim 11, and further comprising a starter strip located underneath the first course of the shingles.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2006
Inventor: David Geary (Northborough, MA)
Application Number: 11/420,099
International Classification: E04D 1/00 (20060101);